Centre for Creativity

Latest News - Funding Update

We are pleased to be able to share some very positve news from several important funders who are supporting the new Centre for Creativity.

Firstly, we are delighted to have received £70,000 funding by Arts Council England from their Grants for the Arts awards. Building on this success we have also been awarded £200k as a joint award from Key Fund and Power to Change with each providing £100k for the Centre for Creativity. All of these funders have highlighted the Theatre’s positive impact on the local community.

In addition, the Yorkshire Health Charity has awarded £30,000 in support of an access ascent leading to the new Studio Theatre, allowing us to realise a long held ambition to make first class facilities available to all audiences members.

New art, new artists, new audiences

It is a very exciting time at Theatre Royal Wakefield. Together we have a unique opportunity to establish a Centre for Creativity to add to the cultural heartbeat of Wakefield and West Yorkshire. It will attract talented new artists and enable the very best in arts education. We aim to become a centre of excellence for family friendly programming and young people’s engagement.

Centre for Creativity

The new Centre for Creativity will provide a major extension to Theatre Royal Wakefield with direct public access from Westgate into the theatre’s foyer and stalls seating area. It will provide increased hospitality facilities at night, which will help to transform the audience’s journey through the theatre and allow artists to engage with audience members.

The glass frontage will create a dramatic statement, inviting people inside to enjoy a contemporary cafe/bar. This will lead to the new 100 seat studio theatre where you will be able to experience comedy, music, drama, story-telling, puppetry and all sorts of new performances.

Sign up to be part of the future of theatre in Wakefield

“Any theatre needs the powerhouse of creativity to fuel its forward motion. With the opening of the Centre for Creativity, Theatre Royal Wakefield is inviting in the future. By creating a new writing platform space, which offers the opportunity for script development and bespoke performances of newly fired plays, and spoken word events, the theatre is demonstrating its commitment to a living art form. These chamber experiences will encourage new and unique voices from myriad backgrounds to find a significant public outlet.

I have pledged my support to the new Centre for Creativity and would encourage you to sign up to support the future of theatre in Wakefield.”John Godber, Creative Director

With your help, we would now like to demonstrate the depth of public support for extending theatre facilities in Wakefield.